Folding table



' VAN CURTIS-DODGE.

FOLDING TABLE. No. 544,216. Patented Aug'. g0, 1895 Mm" a lg egdr NlTED STATES VAN CURTIS DODGE, .OF SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA.

FOLDING TABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters'latent N0. 544,845, dated August 20, 1 895.

Application filed February 28, l895.- Serial No. 540,103. (No model.) i

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, VAN CURTIS DODGE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sacramento, in the county of Sacramento and State of California, have invented a new and useful Folding Table, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to folding tables for general use where it is desirable to provide an article of this nature which can be conveniently stored and readily set up for use when required.

The purpose of the invention is to provide a structure in which the side rails will be adapted to fold upon the table-top and which,

when turned into a normal position, can be braced against lateral stress from either side, and will embrace the sides of the legs opposite the end rails as a clamp, and prevent such portion from splitting, which frequently happens in this class of tables when they are subjected to end strain by placing a load upon them in a careless manner. It has been proposed to project the extremities of the end rails beyond the legs and have them enter grooves in the side rails; Suchconstruction has been found objectionable, because the end strain upon the table-top results disastrously to the legs by causing them to split and crack. All these objections are overcome by my invention, and the table, while capable of being packed into a small bundle, is securely braced when set up for use without the necessity of providing irons or braces or like stays other than those usually found in tables as generally constructed.

The improvement consists, essentially, of a folding side rail notched near its end to embrace the sides of the legs opposite the end rails, and in a turn-button or brace pivoted in a notch provided in the upper edge of the said side rail, to be turned crosswise thereof to brace the rail laterally in each direction.

The improvement also consists of the novel features and the peculiar construction and combination of the parts, which hereinafter will be more fully described, and set forth in the claims, and which are shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of the table, showing the leg-section and side rails folded upon the table-top. Fig. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the table as it willappear when set up for use. Fig. 3 is an end view showing the table folded into a compact form.

The table-top A is divided longitudinally, and has the leg-sectionshinged to the under side near each extremity. The leg-sections are similarly constructed, and comprise legs B and end rails C, the latter being centrally divided and hinged together. It will be understood that these leg-sections must be so disposed that when folded upon the table-top the legs B will lie in the same plane and just pass one another, as clearly indicated in Fig. l of the drawings. Thisdisposition of the leg-sections causes them to be placed a little out of alignment, to admit of the legs of one section passing the legs of the opposite section when folding the two legsections, so that all the legs may lieclose against the table-top. It has been found necessary to provide the leg-sections at diagonally-opposite points with lateral extensions 19, so that the sides of the legs may come in the same plane. The reason for this construction is manifest when it is remembered that the up per portion of the legs enters notches in the side rails, and that the sides of said portion entering the notch are embraced by the side Walls'of the said notch. The side railsD are hinged to the edge portion of the table-top so as to fold outward, and have notches or grooves 01 in their inner sides to receive the upper portion of the legs or their extensions 1), as hereinbefore stated. A notch 2 is provided in the upper edge of the side rail, preferably at a middle point in its length, to receive a brace or stay 3, which is pivoted midway of its ends in the said notch and is adapted to be turned crosswise of the rails and brace the same laterally in each direction. same piece which is cut from the side rail to form the notch 2, and is secured by a screw or bolt to the said side rail so as to be turned when desired and secure the side rail in proper position.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the table can be cheaply and economically constructed, as no expensive irons, fastenings, or braces are required to firmly and rigidly secure the parts inthe located position when the table-is set up for use.

This brace or stay is formed of the i Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. The combination with the 'table top, of folding leg sections, folding side rails notched in their inner sides to embrace the sides of the leg sections at their upper ends to prevent splitting or cracking, and braces pivoted in notches provided in the upper edges of the said side rails, and adapted to be turned crosswise thereof to brace them laterally in each direction, substantially as set forth.

2. The herein shown and described foldingtable comprising a table top divided longitudinally, leg sections having their rails centrally divided and hinged together, and themselves hinged to the table top so as to fold close upon the said table top, the said leg sec- VAN CURTIS DODGE. \Vitnesses:

JOHN I-IILLHOUSE, C. W. BAKER. 

